Lake St Clair

[Maverickpro201]

I thought I saw a piece on Lake St. Clair here a few weeks ago but cannot find it. 

Anyway we are headed up to Lake St. Clair on the 2nd of August for 5 days. Will be putting in several days at St Clair Shores Ramp a couple days and on real windy days and maybe just for a change up, up in the St. Clair River area of Algonac. 

Any Idea's what the Smallmouth like this time of the year, Baits and colors would be greatly appreciated.

[Quillback]

26 minutes ago, Maverickpro201 said:

I thought I saw a piece on Lake St. Clair here a few weeks ago but cannot find it. 

Anyway we are headed up to Lake St. Clair on the 2nd of August for 5 days. Will be putting in several days at St Clair Shores Ramp a couple days and on real windy days and maybe just for a change up, up in the St. Clair River area of Algonac. 

Any Idea's what the Smallmouth like this time of the year, Baits and colors would be greatly appreciated.

Never been there, but would like to give it a shot one of these days.

Elites are going to be there July 27-30, catch some of the live coverage if you can and you'll see what they are using.  

[Maverickpro201]

Well we have 5 boats/10 people going this time. They usually have 6 boats. We have not been able to go for 3 years due to my fishing partners wife being sick for that long, She has went on to her next life now, we miss her and think of her often. 

You are more than welcome to come along if you have a boat and partner. We are open to anybody going. Thats why they let me go.

[Quillback]

Thanks for the invite, too much going on for me to leave here, but one of these days I want to fish that lake.

[watermen2]

They will be deep (relative) on reefs or drop offs.  I have not fished St Clair in 4 years and that was through the Ice.  Tremendous walleye fishery as well as perch and Muskies.  I fished just north of there last year this time.  I have cousins in Bad Axe and Cass city that fish it regularly and fished with me last summer on Huron.  Since the gobies invaded the lakes a Blackish plastic seems to do the best.  The craws are lighter colored in the big lakes so a light brown or light green tube has merit.  My cousins seemed fond of drop shotting.  One used blown up crawlers with a white bead on a lindy rig to catch variety.  Mouths of rivers/Rocks are always good this time of year on the lake.  Headed home tomorrow and will fish Washington Island for a day or two.  Fish Salmon with a buddy or a charter for a day to let my wife feel  the pull.  Great time of year on the great lakes, talked to a buddy fishing perch today at ludington, bring a hoody, mornings are cool. That's a good thing. 

I almost forgot, light line and a spinning rod about 7 to 7-6 feet.  4-8 lb test light. More bites

[Mitch f]

3 hours ago, watermen2 said:

They will be deep (relative) on reefs or drop offs.  I have not fished St Clair in 4 years and that was through the Ice.  Tremendous walleye fishery as well as perch and Muskies.  I fished just north of there last year this time.  I have cousins in Bad Axe and Cass city that fish it regularly and fished with me last summer on Huron.  Since the gobies invaded the lakes a Blackish plastic seems to do the best.  The craws are lighter colored in the big lakes so a light brown or light green tube has merit.  My cousins seemed fond of drop shotting.  One used blown up crawlers with a white bead on a lindy rig to catch variety.  Mouths of rivers/Rocks are always good this time of year on the lake.  Headed home tomorrow and will fish Washington Island for a day or two.  Fish Salmon with a buddy or a charter for a day to let my wife feel  the pull.  Great time of year on the great lakes, talked to a buddy fishing perch today at ludington, bring a hoody, mornings are cool. That's a good thing. 

I almost forgot, light line and a spinning rod about 7 to 7-6 feet.  4-8 lb test light. More bites

I wouldn’t use 4 pound test 

[watermen2]

14 hours ago, Mitch f said:

I wouldn’t use 4 pound test 

Use it a lot in clear water. Caught a lot of 8-10 lb steelhead in current on it.  Makes a big difference, like double the bites over 8-10 lb in that clear water.   The longer rods make a big difference.  Try it in open water.  Around here, I never have in the rivers.  

[snagged in outlet 3]

20 hours ago, watermen2 said:

Use it a lot in clear water. Caught a lot of 8-10 lb steelhead in current on it.  Makes a big difference, like double the bites over 8-10 lb in that clear water.   The longer rods make a big difference.  Try it in open water.  Around here, I never have in the rivers.  

I never thought smallies were line shy.   I’ll have to try it.  Thx!

[Mitch f]

23 hours ago, watermen2 said:

Use it a lot in clear water. Caught a lot of 8-10 lb steelhead in current on it.  Makes a big difference, like double the bites over 8-10 lb in that clear water.   The longer rods make a big difference.  Try it in open water.  Around here, I never have in the rivers.  

Erie, St.Clare, and Detroit river are full of Zebra mussels which are line killers…easy way to break off on a big fish

[snagged in outlet 3]

One of my customers invited me up to fish St Clair.   We’re trying to work out the details.   2 weeks ago he was out for 3 hours and had 11 smallies over 20”s.   
 

I supplied the steel casing for tge caissons and he’s doing the foundation work for the Soo locks expansion.